Member of Dean’s Advisory Board
School of Education
December 1, 2009
Patricia Hager’s childhood somewhat resembles the character Scout in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. She spent her younger years playing with the neighborhood kids in the “wilderness” between her backyard and the country road that led up to neighboring horse farms.
“On summer afternoons, I would climb to the top of a towering oak tree and read. From my perch, I would aim and throw books at the boys on the ground who were taunting me to climb down and to join them.”
During her elementary schooling, when her teachers held contests to encourage students to read, Patricia usually won. Because reading was so important to her, she was troubled when she noticed that a boy who sat next to her never participated. After she discovered that he was illiterate, she took it upon herself to tutor him during recess (even though he was a reluctant learner because he wanted to play with the other boys).
The first time her family traveled overseas, they became extremely lost during a sightseeing venture because none of them could speak the language or read the signs. That feeling of frustration and fear helped her to grasp the importance of literacy and the ability to communicate.
Patricia believes that becoming an educator was inevitable because of life experiences such as these as well as genetics (her mother, grandmother, and several family members were teachers).
Following graduation from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education English and a Minor in Journalism, she immediately moved to Los Angeles and taught for two years at a private school called Landmark West. With the energy of a new teacher, Patricia created clubs and organized extra-curricular events to motivate the students and the following year, she became the school’s first Activities Director.
Since Patricia’s heart is in public education, her second teaching position was at Culver City High School. During her six years at CCHS, she served as English Department Chair, pep squad advisor, and in several other capacities. She also earned her Master’s degree in Education Administration through Pepperdine University’s evening classes at a satellite location in Culver City.
As an educational administrator, Patricia has served as Assistant Principal of Student Services at Tustin High School, Assistant Principal of Guidance/ Instruction at Huntington Beach High School, and Principal of Whitney High School in ABC Unified School District (recently listed in Newsweek Magazine’s article “Top 100 Schools”).
Patricia believes in the value of sharing best practices with fellow educators. Most recently she participated in an international administrator exchange program sponsored by American Councils and Fulbright. As part of the program, she hosted a principal from Rafael, Argentina in early November and she will travel to Argentina in June of 2010. The purpose of the exchange program is to encourage administrators to learn about other school systems and cultures.
I became interested in South America when I visited the Galapagos Islands last spring. I eventually would like to expand the administrator partnership into a student/teacher exchange.
In reflecting on her career in education, Patricia feels incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with a variety of high caliber professionals who truly care about young people. Outside of education, Patricia’s interests include traveling, bike riding, reading, and attempting to play golf.
Although she acknowledges that the state’s budget crisis is bleak, she is optimistic about the future.
I believe that through public education, today’s youth will be tomorrow’s solution.